Workplace Fun hits the Headlines!

Those of you who know me well would recognise that I have been preaching the business benefits of creating fun in the workplace for many moons. A recent edition of “Inc” magazine (www.inc.com) is dedicated to this idea, so I thought I’d share some of their thoughts (and some of my own!) on how to make a smile your success switch at work.

Whether you are a solo-preneur, an individual contributor, a manager or a business owner, the power of the positive applies to you. The creation of a positive workplace, or even better a “fun” one, has been proven to boost every business measure – productivity; creativity; sales; customer service; staff retention; morale; and of course, the bottom line – profit!

One of the key elements in creating a “juiced up” business culture is to manage the energy levels of the people in your business (even if that’s only you!). By my definition, that means animation, enthusiasm and vitality. It’s important to remember that not everyone shows their energy in the same way. They don’t have to be leaping out of their skins or laughing hysterically to prove that they’re feeling energised. At the same time, someone who is dragging themselves around, looking like they just lost their last dollar, is likely to need a boost.

So, what are some of the solutions? Well, based on the Juiced Up Principles, and remembering that different situations require different solutions, possibilities include:
• Activities that encourage employees to get to know each other
• Theme lunches with food to share and related activities
• Charity fundraisers using group activities

Some bonus hints from the Inc Magazine articles include:
• Spring clean your office with prizes for the weirdest ‘find’
• Create your own in-house training video, based on happenings in your business, and using your staff as the actors.

If you’d like to assess the juice levels in your organization, take advantage of the free Juice Audit I have developed and have available for you at http://www.helenmac.com/content/images/stories/jub%20audit.pdf - if you have any questions about it, feel free to make contact.

Until next time, have fun and stay juicy!

Helen ☺